Welcome to Dolly and Fred's Summer Of Play
Do you remember the summers we used to have?
Long afternoons that stretched forever. Blanket forts made with garden chairs and pegs. Hopscotch on the pavement. Secret notes written to teddies. Ice lollies that melted faster than we could eat them. No screens. No rushing. Just play.
That’s the summer I want to bring back.
Not perfectly planned Pinterest days or schedules so tight you need a spreadsheet. Just the kind of slow, joyful moments that linger in your heart, the ones that made us feel free, seen, and safe.
Introducing the Dolly and Fred Summer of play
And so I created Dolly & Fred’s Summer of Play, a free printable activity pack full of gentle, screen-free ideas to help you and your children slow down, reconnect, and remember what summer’s really about.
Whether you’re building a blanket fort, writing a letter to a teddy, or playing bingo in the garden like I used to at my grandparents’ house... this is your invitation to a simpler, sweeter kind of season.
What’s Inside the Summer of Play Pack?
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to create a summer full of creativity, connection, and magic (with zero extra Googling required):
✅ 25-Activity Summer Bingo Card
A 5x5 grid of screen-free, childhood-inspired fun, perfect to tick off one by one or pick at random.
✂️ Printable Prompt Slips
Cut them out, pop them in a jar, and let fate choose your next adventure.
🛠️ Easy How-To Guides
Simple instructions for the slightly trickier tasks like making a paper fortune teller or homemade ice lollies, because your brain deserves a break, too.
📜 Completion Certificate
A lovely little reward for finishing the challenge.
🌼 Encouragement + Prize Ideas
Tips for keeping the momentum going with low-cost rewards and nostalgic treats.
Why does play matter
This guide isn’t about filling time. It’s about making space.
Space for imagination and connection. For that feeling of being completely present with your child, even if it's just for a few minutes in the garden.
Because the truth is, core memories are rarely made during big, expensive days out.
They’re formed in the in-between. The slow mornings. The homemade lollies. The giggles under a blanket fort that keep echoing long after bedtime.
In a world where the cost of everything is rising, Dolly & Fred’s Summer of Play is a reminder that the best things don’t have to cost a thing. It’s about choosing presence over pressure. Simplicity over stress.
Because when we choose play, we’re not just passing time, we’re planting seeds. And those seeds grow into lifelong memories.
There’s a prize, too!
Email a photo of your finished bingo card to jo@dollyandfred.co.uk, or tag us on Instagram @dollyandfreddesigns and we’ll send you an exclusive discount code and a chance to win an exclusive Dolly and Fred Bundle wirth £50+. (Closing Date 5th September 2025, winner drawn 9th September 2025)
(We’ll be cheering you on all summer long.)